legit. legit snow. >> legit. >> yeah. >> okay. thanks so much for watching. "nightly news" is next. see you back here at 6:00. . tonight the growing threat of a new government shutdown as talks in congress breaks down again over border funding. just five days now to reach a deal. virginia governor says he's not going anywhere with people split on whether he should step down over that racist photo. many americans are worried they'll get small refunds or owe big bucks, what you can do to reduce your tax burden. the mud slide. >> the music's biggesttory for

awards.is is "n nightly news" w kate snow. >> the government may be right back the same situation we just escaped last month, another partial government shutdown. that possibility loomed larger today as talks between congressional negotiators stalled out. some of those members in congress continue to express hope, a deal can be made. let's begin quickly. let's start with kelly o'donell. >> reporter: no negotiations at all today. both party preventing a friday s subtling way. the divide includes a new issue, democrats want to limit number of beds in detention center for undocumented migrants. fewer beds will force the trump administration to prioritize holdings and those committed the

serious crimes. democrats out of the blue want a cap on convicted felons to be held in detention. the other is find an amount for a border wall or barrier. the president will give a little but not give up on his border wall. >> you can't take it off the table or $5.7 million off the table. if you end up some place in the middle then you will see the president will say okay, i will go find the money some where else. >> reporter: democrats and republicans directly involved say chances for striking a deal sour but not completely. >> i am hopeful, not positive but very hopeful we can come to an agreement. >> i would say 50/50 we'll get a deal, hoping and praying that we do. >> reporter: the next 24 hours are described as crucial because any agreement would still take days to pass congress and be signed by the president. president trump will hold a

campaign rally in el paso, texas, taking his pitch for a border wall right to the southern border. >> kelly o'donell, thank you. the crowded field of democrats who want to be president got bigger today. amy klobachar announcing her candidacy before a crowd in minneapolis where it was 15 degrees and snowing heavily. among her things she said on day one of her presidency, the u.s. will rejoin the climate agreement that president trump withdrew from. in virginia, a political storm, ralph northam says today he's not going anywhere as he tries to move beyond the controversy over thais medical yearbook. geoff bennett reports on the controversy over northam and virginia lieutenant governor. >> reporter: ralph northam in his first tv interview in a black face scandal says he won't

step down. >> i am not going anywhere. >> reporter: northam's new plan pushing for androg agenda of eq. >> just 90 miles from here in 1619, the first servant from africa laying it on our shores and old point comfort of what we call now -- >> also known as slavery. >> i think i am in a position to take virginia to the next level. >> a new sign of support. >> reporter: a washington post finding the majority of african-americans want northam to be on the job. >> i think he has changed. >> i think they need to get off of him. let him do his job. >> reporter: the governor still reserving judgment on his number two. justin fairfax who's accused of

sexually assault by two women, dr. vanessa tyson and meredith watson. fairfax leaving his home today denying both allegations. i call on all appropriate and impartial investigate to investiga investigate fully. i ask all three of us to be respected during this process. >> meredith watson and tyson say they are prepared to testify to move forward. they both refute his claim that is the encounter were completely consensual. thank you, geoff bennett. in venezuela, it appears to be a presidential campaign this weekend between the man still holds power and the man who says he's the legitimate president. nbc kerry sanders has beeni

following it all. >> reporter: the 35 years ol mobbed by supporters. guaio and maduro both claims to be venezuela's president. tens of thousands rallying formuro for maduro this weekend. in a country where hunger now drives alee gen drives allegiance. street markets still sells but at a high prices. food is scarced for everyone. the sixth-month old justeighs eight pounds but should weigh 16. this afternoon, guaido visited many volunteers. >> doctors say there are many patients, there are not enough medical supplies and some of those supplies are across the border, a gift from the united

states that the maduro government just won't let in. >> reporter: at the barricade, a protest by doctors who are fed up. >> will the aid from the united states ever get into venezuela? >> he says it is going get in. >> reporter: the chant today, yes, we can. guaido's wife. because venezuela has hope. >> reporter: on both sides hope that this fight for power ends peacefully and soon. >> kerry sanders, nbc news, carrascas. a disturbing reality setting in for millions of americans that the new tax law that took effect last year could come back and haunt them this year.

>> reporter: this tax reason may be remember for one thing, many unhappy returns. >> i will have to pay the federal taxes more than ever before. >> reporter: because of changes the way you file, the average tax refund drops 8.4% from 2035 last year to $1,865 according to the new figure of the irs. >> i am not thrilled about it. >> reporter: 30 million americans will be writing checks rather than cashing them, that's 3 million more than president trump's tax reform had not passed. some may receive a smaller refund or owe tax if they did not check or adjust their withholding in 2018. the news was not bad for everyone. 80% of americans received a tax cut according to the tax policies center. >> foreign has benefited me, more money. >> reporter: financial experts say there is still time to make adjustments. >> is there anything we can do before the deadline?

>> you can still contribute to individual retirement account or an ira to reduce your taxable income. you have up until april 15th to do that if you qualify. contribution to a health savings account could help reduce your taxable income. >> reporter: while several deductions disappeared in the over haul, experts say you can -- options to ensure you are not left with a diminishing rn. kathy park, nbc news, new york. a lawyer for the national enquirer were on defense today. >> it is a scandal involving the world's richest man, jeff bezos. david pecker cut right to the

chase this week. >> it is extortion and not blackmail. in january, enquirer posted the conversation between lauren sanchez and jeff bezos. jeff bezos shared e-mails from the company and not independently confirmed by nbc news. ami threatens to release ten unpublished photos of jeff bezos and sanchez unless he stops the investigation. >> the attorney labeled it a journalistic negotiation. >> both jeff bezos and ami has interests in resolving their differences. it seems that jeff bezos may have seen this defense coming. bezos says no real journalists ever proposing anything like it is happening here. federal prosecutors are looking to claim from both sides. nbc news. now to a controversyver

uranium. now a virginia landowner wants to dig it out of his property. the battle had been going on for a decade and it is in the hands of the u.s. supreme court. here is nbc's anne thompson. >> reporter: the family trees are deep in the soils of southwest virginia. >> these cattle have been on the land for 50 years. >> reporter: 1,058 acres owned by six generation of coals, now walter wants to mine what's underneath. walking along this road, bob bardner shows us what the eyes can't see. >> this is what the uranium ore looks like. radiation fears have led to local opposition and fighting gone all the way to the supreme court. >> you are not a praia in town.

>> some of the people were for me and against it. i still get along with them. >> reporter: the question is which law will prevail? the state of virginia banned uranium but coal are supported by the trump administration. worried about the safety management of radio active waste and arguing that's the responsibility of the federal government. >> we got the virginia people back. >> reporter: others who live in the roanoke river s can lead to environmental disaster for 2 million people. >> if the uranium mine is built this river can be polluted w ac.

>> can you guarantee any way to not pollute the water. >> you would have to downstream that would catch it before it would seep downstream. >> reporter: to be decide ds d the highest court in the land. anne thompson, chatham, virginia. the idea giving unemployment people basic income without conditions to help them get back on their feet. in finland, they just finished an experiment to see how it works. n nbc's sarah harmon has more. >> reporter: cindy has been out of work for over open her coffe. >> i think the biggest effect was psychological. >> reporter: the past two years, she and 2,000 other unemployed

finns received $635 a month. the money continued even after they found jobs. the goal to give unemployed people a safety net to find work or even start a business. the trial has ended and now researchers say there was almost no effect on unemployment, though people who got the money reported higher levels of well-being. >> those receive felt better and they have less stress and had more confidence in their future. >> reporter: aztec and automation eliminate more jobs worldwide, the idea of paying everyone a guarantee income is gaining support. >> what's the advantage of universal basic income verses traditional welfare program? >> reporter: for one thing it is comprehensive and less judgmental. every single person gets it and you know you can count on it. critics say it will cost too

much. tech billionaire like elon musk and zuckerberg support it. >> we should explore new ideas. >> reporter: stocks in a pilot program funded by private donations and in mississippi, another trial is underway and chicago is considering a similar measure. finland's experiment showing free money may make people feeling better but not getting anyone in into the workplace. we'll look at the growing threat of mud slides and the new technology that may decrease the threat and save lives. >> and music's biggest night, we'll go and see the producer.

we are back with the growing menace of mud slide in places like california where land hit by wildfires and a lot of rain poses a major threat. california central coast trying a new technology to stop the tracks, tammy leitner takes a look. >> reporter: rivers of mud ravaged the town monticello last year. >> reporter: a historic fire season sparked new fears that monticello's last disaster was a preview of a bigger disaster to come. >> when it rains this year, i

think people do immediately flash back. >> reporter: residents evacuated six times this year are taking action. they believe these steel nets next deadly mud slide where it starts. >> reporter: these canyons are beautiful but can be dangerous. >> they can be very dangerous under conditions pose fire or with intense rainfall. >> reporter: a small team raised more than $4 million from residents, six nets will be installed in this canyon and two others. >> water and soils and mud can go through the rain net but the rocks stay behind. >> reporter: these excavator working a is withoutse nets, these giant boulders will continue to flow downstream. >> we are absolutely at risk today. >> reporter: fire chief kevin taylor says the nets can provide safety for the years to come.

a new line helping thomas imagining a new future of the place he calls home. tammy leitner, nbc news, monticello. we'll be back in a moment for an amazing run.

after getting a break today, seattle and other parts of the pacific northwest will get hit by a second winter storm tonight with almost eight inches of snow on the ground, seattle could see additional eight inches making its the snowiest february on record. this fast moving storm will reach the east coast by tuesday. speaking of snow, it was an end

of an era today. lindsey vonn competed in her final race of her career. vonn found enough strength and speed to win the bronze medal in the world alpine championships. afterwards vonn admitted she was the most nervous she had ever been as she ended her phenomenon career. congrats to her. when we come back, i will take you to the university that becomes a real pipeline to the grammy awards.

tonight is music's biggest event, the grammy awards. you may be surprised that seven of the nominees have roots

in a state school you may never heard of. outside nashville had been teaching young producers and song writers how to shine. ♪ at nashville bluebird cafe, they play their famous tunes in the round. >> ♪ you may know the hit he cowrote, "space cowboy," that song giving the grammy winner his fifth nomination. >> the first time i got to go to the grammys, i got there and i was literally like -- omnivore, there is beyonce. >> and this is how al kid from rural pennsylvania got to the grammys. middle tennessee, state university, 40 milesnaville. >> i had of set

recorder, that was my studio. when i saw this man, this is big time i thought. >> reporter: mtsu as a department devotedvoting. unlike other private music schools, this is a state university. >> how many of you will graduate with no debt? >> all of you. >> that's unusual these days. >> yeah. absolutely. >> reporter: since 2007, alumni and faculties and former students brought home 60 grammy awards. als.otiate his producerar, tay >> soull a funny move on me. >> hope i don't let you guys down tonight. >> reporter: back at the bluebird, students are getting some inspiration. >> it is a hard business to be in. it is also an awesome business

to be in. i had people who inspired and encouraged me and i want to do that for other students. >> you may just have won a grammy. >> that would be nice. >> he did win a grammy. he won for "space cowboy." best of luck to tay keith. lester holt will be in tomorrow. i am kate snow from all of us here at nbc news, have a great night. a winter blast hits the b

area, with snow on the mountains. test test six starts right now. right now at 6:00, a winter blast hits the bay area and we have lots of it in the mountains. >> good evening. thanks for joining us. >> i'm terry mcsweeney. >> i'm vicky nguyen. the snow is providing cold in the bay area. >> we saw it twice in the last 11 days. this is the view at the observatory. they did get 5 1/2 inches of new snow on top of tuesday for a weekly total of just over a foot of snow there. 4,000 feet. right now, storm ranger not seeing much as